The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne

Chapter 885: A Situation Spiraling Out of Control

Two days later...

News of Cedric’s arrest was still the talk of the town throughout the Great Velmora Empire.

Two days had passed, and it was enough time for people to uncover what had really happened.

Eventually, someone with connections to a guard at the detention center managed to learn the truth.

Cedric was suspected of working with the wealthiest businessman in the northern region. Their partnership was believed to be connected to the slave trade.

As the news spread, it hit the empire like an atomic bomb exploding in the middle of a city.

”Damn! I never expected something like this! Prince Cedric is truly evil!”

”You’re right! I used to think princes were kind, honorable people, but now I realize they’re just as cruel as the criminals out there!”

”What a scumbag! No wonder so many young women have gone missing in the northern region. It turns out Prince Cedric is one of the people behind the slave trade!”

In the blink of an eye, the entire empire was talking about it with burning anger. They deeply respected Emperor Ragan, especially because he had abolished slavery throughout the empire.

Yet Cedric, his own son, had become involved in such an evil operation.

How could they not be furious?

Cedric’s reputation as a genius of the Imperial Academy, along with all the other prestige he had built over the years, crumbled in an instant, like a towering building collapsing after a massive earthquake.

Many of Cedric’s supporters in the battle for the throne, including the Ashvale family, were dragged down with him.

Their reputations were completely ruined in the eyes of the public. People openly ridiculed and condemned them, and even those living in the northern territories turned against them.

...

The Ashvale Family’s Parlor...

”My Lord, we’ve received countless letters of protest from the citizens of Orested City! They’re demanding that we stop supporting Prince Cedric!”

”My Lord, the citizens of Lynares are also demanding that the Ashvale family withdraw its support. Otherwise, they’re threatening to revolt!”

”My Lord...”

Several people—none other than the nobles serving as mayors in various cities across the northern region—reported the situation outside one after another.

Duke Ashvale sat in silence, his expression grim. His pale face had turned red, and his breathing gradually grew heavier.

He had expected protests from the public, but they were far bigger than he had imagined.

He feared that if things weren’t brought under control soon, the northern region would descend into chaos, with uprisings breaking out everywhere.

Margaretta, who sat across from her father, wore the same grim expression.

Her breathing was unsteady, and her face had gone pale. It had been two days since Cedric was taken into custody, and she had tried everything she could to get him released.

Unfortunately, none of it had worked. Cedric had been dragged into the slave-trading case that Jakes had orchestrated.

Even though all he had done was sign a document, the law made no distinction. He was still considered an accomplice and would face the same punishment as Jakes.

”Enough!”

Duke Ashvale could no longer hold back. His voice echoed throughout the parlor, instantly silencing everyone who had been giving their reports.

He looked at them one by one before saying, ”I don’t care how you do it, but you must calm the people in your territories. You are nobles whose livelihoods are funded by the people’s taxes. You live in luxury because of them. So how is it that, over a single issue, you’ve completely lost control of the situation?”

One of the nobles gritted his teeth before finally speaking.

”My Lord, this situation is truly complicated! The people have united, and even the city guards are powerless to stop them! They refuse to back down unless their demands are met! Please understand!”

”That’s right,” another said, nodding with a trembling voice. ”They’re threatening to burn down my house and loot everything inside! My wife and children have already fled, but I can’t abandon my territory. Please help us, my lord!”

The other nobles quickly spoke up as well, each explaining their own difficulties, giving Duke Ashvale an even bigger headache.

The nobles standing before him were all directly affiliated with the Ashvale Family.

At first, he had thought having them under the Ashvale Family’s banner would help ease its burdens and responsibilities.

Instead, the opposite had happened. At a critical moment like this, they proved completely useless.

Suppressing his anger, he spoke in a cold voice.

”I will send the Ashvale Family’s soldiers to suppress the public protests. In a few hours, the imperial palace will resume normal operations, and His Majesty will personally handle this matter. So, there’s no need to worry.”

Hearing that, the nobles let out sighs of relief. All they wanted was a solution and a few reassuring words, not to be left to deal with the problem on their own.

”Very well, My Lord! We’ll do our best to contain the public outcry. Hopefully, we can hold out until the palace is no longer under lockdown,” one of them said.

Shortly afterward, they turned and left the parlor.

Now, only Duke Ashvale and Margaretta remained. Neither of them spoke. Their heads were full of so many thoughts.

The mood in the parlour was strained and heavy.

The servants wanted to serve them tea, but they were too scared to come near.

But it was their job. They placed two cups of tea on the table with great care and then scurried off.

Margaretta lifted her cup of tea and took a sip.

The sweet flavor, blended with mint and Acilius flowers, gradually eased the tension in her body.

After taking a few more sips, she finally broke the silence.

”Father, what should we do?”

Duke Ashvale took a sip of his tea as well. He remained silent for a moment before replying, ”I don’t know either. The slave trade is beyond my ability to resolve. The imperial palace will handle this matter. All we can do now is pray that His Majesty will show mercy and pardon Prince Cedric. Otherwise...”

His expression darkened.

”All our efforts in the battle for the throne will have been for nothing.”

He had already invested a tremendous amount of resources into supporting Cedric, all in the hope of reaping the rewards once Cedric ascended the throne.

If Cedric were stripped of his title and exiled—or worse, sentenced to death—then everything he had invested would be for nothing.

Just the thought of it was excruciating.

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the parlor. A guard rushed in, his face pale.

”M-My Lord, terrible news!”

Duke Ashvale frowned.

”What is it?”

Still trying to catch his breath, the guard replied in a trembling voice, ”The scandal involving the Malvain family has spread across the entire empire!”